A Hero for Lady Abigail (A Wallflower's Wish #5) - Maggie Dallen Page 0,9

seemed as good a pastime as any.

Thoughts of the picnic filled him with dread.

Life since returning from France had been difficult, to say the least. He lacked a mission here, missed the daily routine of tasks that needed to be completed. Not that he missed the war, but he did lack structure and the sense of purpose that came with it.

Thanks to Max’s assistance, he didn’t even need to work. He had a lifetime’s worth of funds. And while many men would enjoy the leisure...he did not. Which was why marriage had become his focus. That would be his next accomplishment, the reason he rose in the morning and worked all day.

With a wife and family to provide for he’d have both a goal to achieve and the peace he craved.

He supposed attending all these functions was a job in and of itself, but it did not give him the same satisfaction as other tasks in his life. Mayhap that was because he wasn’t particularly good at it. He never left a party feeling accomplished.

Tossing his napkin on the table, he pushed back his chair. He was familiar enough with completing unpleasant tasks, this picnic would be no different.

“Major Mayfield,” a deep voice spoke from his left. He looked up to see his good friend Max standing before him. How had the man snuck up on him like that? Clearly, Alex had been lost in his musings.

“Lord Arundel,” he stood in greeting, giving a short bow before he reached for his friend’s hand. “Good to see you.”

“And you as well,” Max answered. “I see you’re nearly done. Do you have business to attend or might I join you?”

“Please,” Alex swept his hand toward the empty chair on the other side of the table. “Your company is always welcome.”

Max took the offered chair. “It’s good to see you. It’s been a few months since last we spoke.”

Alex quirked a brow. “It has.” He didn’t blame his friend for the prolonged silence. Max had been distracted by his new bride. “How is Marigold?”

Max looked down at the table, but he didn’t quite hide his grin. “She is very well. I shall tell her you asked.”

“Do.” Alex sat back, relaxing into his chair. “I haven’t seen you in the club for some time. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”

Max’s smile slipped and his mouth pressed into a straight line. “I came to see you, actually.”

Alex silently waited for his friend to continue. Had the investment that Max made for him gone sour? Was something wrong with Max? Or Marigold?

Max cleared his throat. “Rumors about town say that you’ve been seen at several of society’s soirees.”

Alex blinked several times. That was what Max came to talk about? “I thought something was wrong. You had me worried.”

Max gave him a sidelong glance. “And you have Marigold worried, which means I am forced to be worried. There’s a great deal of worrying all around, apparently.”

A ghost of a smile touched Alex’s lips. “And why, pray tell, do I have your good wife concerned?”

“First, because you are a natural introvert so it’s odd to see you about town. Second, you’ve yet to accept the invitation to our house party this weekend. Marigold is in fits that you would be socializing with everyone but us.”

Alex scrubbed his jaw as he assessed his friend. “Tell Marigold there is no need to be troubled. My participation in society is a targeted strike, so to speak.”

“Targeted at whom?” Max asked, leaning forward, his features intent.

“Why do you ask?” While Alex appreciated their concern, he really did, but he didn’t understand why Max was suddenly involved. He’d been attending events for weeks now as he’d first attempted to choose a woman and now pursue her.

Max cleared his throat, shifting in his chair. “It’s just that…” Max took a breath. “Last night you were seen dancing with Lady Abigail Purewater.”

Alex’s jaw clenched. It seemed gossip traveled faster than the wind. “And this concerns you?”

“More or less,” Max spread his hands before him on the table. “The ladies—”

“Max,” Alex cut him off. “I can assure you that as a grown man, I have the situation well in hand. I’m very aware of the sort of woman Abigail is and I don’t need warnings or advice at this juncture.”

Max grimaced. “I assumed as much. I mean you were there, when Marigold and I met, and you saw Lady Abigail’s behavior at that party.”

His brows scrunched. She could be forward, a bit